Marijuana Was for Sick Aunt Suffering From Breast Cancer, She Says Laura Llanes does not regret buying her aunt marijuana, even though it has cost her a job as police dispatcher. She was stunned, nevertheless, when she was fired last week after admitting she bought the marijuana to help relieve her aunt's suffering through breast cancer and chemotherapy. Marijuana for medicinal purposes is legal with a prescription in 13 states; Illinois is not one of them. Llanes, 28, of Lake Villa remains adamant she did the right thing, saying her biggest mistake was telling a few co-workers what she had done: "They ratted me out." [continues 385 words]
Regarding the editorial, "508 Chicago kids shot in just 16 months" [March 9]: After serving on the board of a youth social service agency for more than 15 years and a 10-year career in educational publishing, it seems to me that if we decriminalize or legalize and control drugs, just like alcohol, the violence in poorer neighborhoods will decline, just as violence declined after the repeal of prohibition. Gangs are drug distribution businesses that require security (violence) to maintain their share of the marketplace (territories). Destroy their businesses and the gangs will have diminished appeal to potential recruits because they will have no way to provide income to their members. [continues 56 words]
An Illinois House committee has forwarded legislation to the full House that would make marijuana for medicinal purposes legal in this state. A number of states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington among them - have decriminalized marijuana when it is used for medical purposes. Although more states are considering similar legislation, we urge Illinois lawmakers to defeat this measure. We acknowledge that marijuana use likely has some medical benefits. Limited studies have shown that it can improve conditions related to appetite loss, nausea and vomiting and help ease pain caused by arthritis and other conditions. [continues 203 words]
White House Moves to Revisit the Medicinal Marijuana Issue When Charles Lynch asked local officials for permission to sell a herbal medicine in the town of Morro Bay on the central coast of California, they allowed his request--even though the "medicine" was marijuana. That's because marijuana prescribed by a doctor has been legal in California since 1996. A dozen other states have passed similar laws. Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and New Hampshire are among about 10 states that have been debating similar measures. [continues 570 words]
Maybe the story got a little too much play in the newspaper. Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti -- along with Sheriff Pat Perez and many, many others -- constantly have been trying to make room in the county jail. That Barsanti would push to hire a full-time attorney devoted to identifying low-risk inmates for bond reductions shouldn't have come as such a big surprise. The move makes good sense, and I applaud him for making it. Don't worry folks -- he's still the law-and-order guy you elected. [continues 406 words]
An Illinois House committee has forwarded legislation to the full House that would make marijuana legal for medicinal purposes in this state. A number of states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington among them - have decriminalized marijuana when it is used for medical purposes. Although more states are considering similar legislation, we urge Illinois lawmakers to defeat this measure. We acknowledge that marijuana use likely has some medical benefits. Limited studies have shown that it can improve conditions related to appetite loss, nausea and vomiting and help ease pain caused by arthritis and other conditions. [continues 203 words]
In your story "House panel approves medical marijuana" [March 5], state Rep. Patricia Bellock (R-Hinsdale) said, "It is the No. 1 drug that introduces young people to other drugs." I say alcohol is the No. 1 drug that leads young people to harder drugs. Furthermore, 23 years ago when my mother was terminally ill with cancer, the only thing that helped her relax even a little bit was a hit or two of pot. Bellock ought to do some research. George P. Martin, Forest Park [end]
A sane argument to cage sick humans for using the relatively safe, God-given plant cannabis doesn't exist [See "Medical marijuana," by R. L. Nave, Feb. 26]. Another reason to stop persecuting sick citizens who use cannabis that doesn't get mentioned is because it is biblically correct since God indicates He created all the seed-bearing plants, saying they are all good, on literally the very first page. The only biblical restriction placed on cannabis is that it is to be accepted with thankfulness (see 1 Tim. 4:1-5). And "But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (1 John 3:17). Stan White Dillon, Colo. [end]
A Springfield man's "medical marijuana club" was raided Wednesday night, less than 14 hours after he announced the club to the news media. Springfield police raided a home in the 1100 block of North Third Street about 7 p.m. Wednesday and arrested Scott Carriere, 40, according to Deputy Chief Clay Dowis. Carriere will be charged in connection with growing several marijuana plants inside the house, Dowis said, although police did not indicate how much was recovered. Jail records Wednesday night indicate Carriere is being investigated on suspicion that he had between 30 and 500 grams of marijuana and had produced more than 50 plants. [continues 447 words]
The medical marijuana push is a poorly disguised trick to sneak recreational marijuana in through a back door. There is no legitimate medical use for pot smoking. My guess is that most, if not all, those promoting it are current or past recreational users themselves. If you want to use this drug, be honest and support decriminalization of recreational marijuana. You may even get support from non-users like me who see the hypocrisy of legal whiskey and illegal marijuana. If you are against decriminalization of marijuana, you should support another alcohol prohibition, but puh...lease don't try to sell me the medical marijuana hoax, or the Brooklyn bridge. I wasn't born yesterday. Michael J. Hart Springfield [end]
SPRINGFIELD - People suffering from cancer, AIDS and other diseases could turn to marijuana for pain relief under a plan approved Wednesday by an Illinois House committee despite claims that it would be a step toward legalizing pot. Under the legislation, people with a doctor's permission would be eligible for a state registry card allowing up to seven marijuana plants in their homes and 2 ounces of "usable cannabis." The measure is written to expire after three years. Advocates say marijuana eases pain without the side effects of heavier drugs and reduces nausea from chemotherapy. [continues 530 words]
Its budget meltdown has California taking a look at legalizing marijuana as a means to revive its depleted treasury. But common sense, not economic need, should persuade Americans it's past time for a sober look at our mad "reefer madness" laws. The Golden State legislator pushing the idea, Tom Ammiano of -- plug in the appropriate joke -- San Francisco, says licensing and taxing legal marijuana production and sales would earn California $1.3 billion a year. His bill would legalize marijuana possession and use for adults 21 or older, license commercial farming of it and tax it at $50 an ounce. [continues 581 words]
10 Charged Last Year With Defrauding Screenings-a Felony Under State Law DuPage County is getting tough on drug offenders who try to cover up continued drug use by cheating on court-ordered screenings. Last year, 10 people were indicted on felony charges of defrauding a drug screening, which under a 2004 state law carries a minimum fine of $1,000 and a prison term of up to 3 years tacked onto a sentence. Officials say offenders use a variety of methods to sneak "clean" urine into test rooms, including a $150 prosthetic penis device. DuPage County officials seized four Whizzinators last year, even as the federal government prosecutes the manufacturers of the devices. [continues 712 words]
In response to the SVN editorial "Challenge to citizens: Gang up on gangs" from Feb. 18, I think the underlying point was missed, since it never stated that the war on drugs is causing most of the gang violence, because the illegal drug market is instigating the same violence that alcohol prohibition did in Chicago. The violence will not end until the profits from an illegal drug market are eradicated, and the way to do that is to regulate, medicalize, and tax currently illegal drugs. Not only would that take away the profit that fuels gangs and leads to gang violence, but it would also make some of the most dangerous substances safer. [continues 145 words]
Patient advocates believe the stars are aligned perfectly for this to be the year medical marijuana finally becomes a reality in Illinois. Dennis nearly lost the lower portion of his right leg when the trencher he was working with unexpectedly hit a metal beam in the ground, causing the blade to jump up, catching the bridge of his foot and slicing his leg all the way up to the knee. In the five-and-a-half years since his accident, he's undergone two surgeries on his leg, one of which involved using chemicals to destroy nerves, and had an electronic stimulating device implanted near his spine to help ease sensations he describes as "pins and needles." But none of it has worked very well. [continues 1678 words]
I think it's hilarious that the media covered the Michael Phelps bong story with such intense coverage. People are crying out that he in not a hero anymore. How come no one cried foul when it was found out that our president smoked pot and snorted cocaine? That story sure didn't last long. The media and most people were able to ignore that. I think the media should really be covering the fact that our hero president has appointed Timothy Geitner as our secretary of the Treasury, a man who dodged his own taxes, and Tom Daschle, who was picked to be the health secretary, who also dodged taxes, but conveniently withdrew his nomination. Oh but wait, we can't ignore Nancy Killefer, who was picked to be the first chief performance officer. She also withdrew her nomination due to tax evasion. [continues 69 words]
I did not read Steve Chapman's war on drug editorial, "Reality intrudes on the drug war," (Editorial, Feb.15) but I did read Thomas Sullivan and Ted Manuel letters agreeing with Chapman's column. I have to disagree with their conclusions. I am proof of the winning of battles in the war on drugs. I was a teenager in the 70's and smoked pot daily. I dealt some to support my habit and moved up to cocaine in the college years. It was a couple of close calls that scared me out of the lifestyle, and in looking back, it was no life at all. [continues 64 words]
Congratulations to Tribune columnist Steve Chapman for exposing the futility and negative consequences of the "war on drugs" ("Reality intrudes on the drug war," Commentary, Feb. 15). Criminal penalties have proven ineffective in reducing manufacture, sales and use. Our court and prison systems have been inundated and overburdened. Many youths are serving lengthy jail terms, to no productive end. The "top brass" remains largely untouched. This is a current version of alcohol prohibition, which we assigned to the dust bin more than half a century ago. Thomas P. Sullivan, Chicago [end]
Congratulations to Steve Chapman for his take on the unwinnable drug war, stalemated for the past 80 years. In so saying, he is in good company, including Walter Cronkite, a spokesman for the cause of sending more productively the billions we waste in the so-called "war on drugs" that we keep losing. Worse, as Chapman points out, we damage the locales south of the border where the drugs originate and contribute to political disruption and mayhem there. By abandoning our fantasies, as Chapman puts it, and ending the existing profitability born of illegality, we could end drug traffic and help balance national and local budgets as well. [continues 51 words]
This week, State Capitol Q&A examines the issue of medical marijuana, which is the subject of legislation introduced by Sen. William Haine, D-Alton. If Haine's Senate Bill 1381 eventually becomes law, people with certain kinds of medical problems would be able to legally use marijuana to ease their discomfort. Q: How would this work? A: Under Haine's bill, people who want to use marijuana for medical purposes would have to obtain a physician's diagnosis that they have a debilitating medical condition. That designation could apply to people with glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy and other ailments, as well as to people undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. [continues 524 words]
Inside Illinois
